Elements of Report Documentation
- Title Page: This states the report's title, the name of the organization that created it, the name of the author(s), and the date of publication.
- Executive Summary: This is a brief overview of the report's main points, key findings and recommendations, typically no longer than a page.
- Table of Content: Outlines the report's main sections and subsections, allowing readers to quickly navigate to specific sections.
- Introduction: Provides background information about the report's topic and sets the context for the information presented in the main body.
- Body of the Report: Presents the main findings and discussion of the report, supported by evidence and data analysis.
- Conclusion: Summarizes the key findings and recommendations of the report.
- References or Bibliography: Cites all sources of information used in the report, such as books, articles and websites.
- Appendices: Contains additional information not essential to understanding the main content, such as supporting tables, charts and datasets.
- Glossary: Includes definitions of specialized or technical terms used in the report.
- Index: Provides alphabetical listing of keywords to help readers find specific information within the report.
Purpose of Report Documentation
- Provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of the report's content and context, helping them evaluate the report's validity and reliability.
- Helps readers navigate through the report quickly by identifying specific sections and information they are looking for.
- Ensures transparency and accountability by providing information about the sources, contributors and research methodology used to create the report.
- Provides readers with a summary of the report's findings and conclusions without requiring them to read the entire report.
- Establishes the credibility of the report by citing external sources and allowing readers to verify the information presented.